Dog attack: Man wants to sue

A NORTHDALE pensioner who was mauled by five dogs last week is considering taking legal action against the animals’ owner and says he will hold him responsible for paying a portion of his hospital bill as he was negligent.

The pensioner, who declined to be named, spent six days in hospital, five in the intensive care unit, after he suffered a heart attack after the attack.

He suffered injuries to his legs, stomach and arms, some of which required stitches.

The police could not comment on the matter as he will lay a complaint today.

The man said he was on his morning walk in Himalaya Road when the dogs rushed at him and knocked him down. “The gate was open and one dog went for me and the rest all came; they bit me for at least five minutes before they all decided to leave.”

The pensioner said that while he lay screaming, no one from the street came to his rescue. “After the attack, a lady from another street came in her car and took me to my house and my son rushed me to hospital. “We did not know if the dogs had been vaccinated for rabies so the doctors gave me medication and I had a bad reaction, which resulted in a heart attack …” he said.

The man said the owner of the dogs has not apologised or checked up on him. “His wife and daughter came to apologise and that was the last of it.” He said he wants to take legal action to force the owner to pay the portion of the medical expenses his medical aid does not cover.

Other residents agree the dogs are a problem. “It is difficult to walk in that area alone and without a weapon because of these dogs,” one resident said after the attack. Attempts to contact the owner of the dogs were unsuccessful.

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